Vibrating device for positioning a miniaturized piece in a testing accommodation, and positioning method

Abstract

An embodiment of a device for positioning a miniaturized piece, including: a positioning structure, which forms a first cavity, designed to receive with play the miniaturized piece, and a second cavity communicating with the first cavity; at least one electrical-contact terminal, facing the second cavity and electrically coupleable to an electronic testing device, designed to carry out an electrical test on the miniaturized piece; and an actuator device, which causes a vibration of the positioning structure, the vibration being such that the miniaturized piece translates, in use, towards the second cavity, until it penetrates at least in part into the second cavity.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a holder including a first receptacle configured to receive an electronic device in a first direction from an external source, the electronic device having a conductive signal pad, and a second receptacle configured to receive the electronic device from the first receptacle in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the holder includes a bottom, the first receptacle and the second receptacle sharing the bottom of the holder, and wherein the second receptacle has a conductive signal terminal; and 
 a positioner configured to move the electronic device from the first receptacle, along the second direction, into the second receptacle to a position where the conductive signal pad is in electrical contact with the conductive signal terminal. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first receptacle is larger than the electronic device; and 
 the second receptacle is smaller than the first receptacle. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first receptacle includes a side wall having a first portion that extends from and is substantially perpendicular to the bottom, and a second portion that extends from the first portion and tapers outward, wherein the second portion is configured to guide the electronic device into the first portion using gravity. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the holder includes a cover disposed over the second receptacle. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the holder includes a removable cover disposed over the second receptacle. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the second receptacle includes an end wall having an opening; and 
 the positioner is configured to generate, within the second receptacle via the opening, a pressure that is different from a pressure outside of the second receptacle. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the second receptacle includes an end wall having an opening; and 
 the positioner is configured to generate, within the second receptacle via the opening, a vacuum that holds the electronic device in a position in which the conductive signal pad contacts the conductive signal terminal. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the second receptacle includes an end wall having an opening; and 
 the positioner is configured to generate, within the second receptacle via the opening, a pressure sufficient to eject the electronic device from the second receptacle into the first receptacle along a direction opposite to the second direction. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the holder includes a sensor configured to indicate whether the electronic device is positioned within the second receptacle such that the conductive signal pad contacts the conductive signal terminal. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the positioner is configured to move the electronic device from the first receptacle into the second receptacle by moving the holder back and forth. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a tester coupled to the conductive signal terminal and configured to test the electronic device while the electronic device is disposed in the second receptacle. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the electronic device. 
     
     
       13. A method, comprising:
 moving an electronic device having a conductive signal pad in a first linear direction to place the electronic device into a first receptacle of a holder, the first receptacle having a bottom and a side wall having a first portion that extends from and is substantially perpendicular to the bottom; and 
 causing the electronic device to move in a second linear direction substantially perpendicular to the first linear direction from the first receptacle into a second receptacle of the holder so as to place the conductive signal pad into contact with a conductive signal terminal disposed in said second receptacle of the holder, wherein the second receptacle shares the bottom and the side wall with the first receptacle. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein moving the electronic device includes placing the electronic device into the first receptacle with a pick-and-place machine. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein causing includes:
 moving the holder in a first vibration direction according to a first velocity profile; and 
 moving the holder in a second vibration direction opposite to the first direction according to a second velocity profile. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein causing includes:
 moving the holder in a first vibration direction according to a first acceleration profile; and 
 moving the holder in a second vibration direction opposite to the first direction according to a second acceleration profile. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein causing includes:
 moving the holder in a first vibration direction such that the electronic device moves toward the second receptacle; and 
 moving the holder in a second vibration direction opposite to the first direction such that the electronic device does not move away from the second receptacle. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein causing includes:
 moving the holder in a first vibration direction such that the electronic device moves a first distance toward the second receptacle; and 
 moving the holder in a second vibration direction opposite to the first direction such that the electronic device moves a second distance away from the second receptacle, the second distance less than the first distance. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , wherein causing includes:
 moving the holder in a first vibration direction such that the electronic device moves toward the second receptacle; and 
 moving the holder in a second vibration direction opposite to the first direction such that the electronic device does not move. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , wherein causing includes moving the holder back and forth multiple times. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 13 , wherein causing comprises:
 reducing a pressure in the second receptacle; 
 creating a pressure differential between the first receptacle and the second receptacle; and 
 overcoming a friction between the electronic device and the holder using the pressure differential until the conductive signal pad is in contact with the conductive signal terminal. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 increasing the pressure in the second receptacle after the conductive signal pad is in contact with the conductive signal terminal; 
 creating a negative pressure differential between the first receptacle and the second receptacle; and 
 ejecting the electronic device from the second receptacle into the first receptacle using the negative pressure differential. 
 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction is vertical and the second direction is horizontal.